In the States, right of centre politicians and their media supporters know that "communist", "socialist" and "radical liberal" are scary labels they can use to bamboozle the proles. I'm convinced that the vast majority of Americans have no idea what those political stances actually mean, and nor do they have any understanding of how their lives and their communities would actually be affected if such people were in power.
Bernie Sanders is portrayed as a huge boogey-man by the authoritarian right, but I've seen surveys where, when people are asked their views on the policies he advocates and the questions are put in neutral terms, a clear majority of Americans agree with him on many things.
And of course Sanders would be seen as a moderate lefty in Europe, and much of what he says and proposes would be considered no more than common sense.
.....YOURE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MUH GUNS YOU COMMUNIST SOCIALIST!!!
Ugh. I mean...I love my American family...but having to listen to otherwise good and sane people talk about Obama embezzling and how good Trump had been doing was just...physically painful.
Only topped by the one with several severe chronic illnesses before 35, single mother who has almost died and had to fight for four years to get on Medicaid...saying that she would hate to have socialised medicine like I do.
Such idiocy that's so completely detached from reality and self-interest can only be explained by indoctrination to the point of brainwashing.
Over the last few weeks, I've seen videos of former QAnon cultists who have suddenly seen the light and realised it was all a crock of shit. Their embarrassment is much like what I'd imagine you'd see when someone only realised at the age of forty that Santa Claus isn't real.
Those people never completely detached from reality and something in their character gave them the ability to take a step back and think about what they believed and how it compares to what they actually see going on around them. I'm sure a lot of QAnon cultists have fallen so far down the rabbit hole that there's no going back for them, and their universe will just keep on getting weirder and weirder to outside observers. The same applies to those whose only news is from Fox, OAN, Newsmax and those who share their loony social media bubble.
I'm convinced that fear is behind a lot of what we see on the political right.
Fear of change. Fear of those who look different or use a language they don't understand. Fear of those who use complicated words they don't comprehend to express concepts they can't grasp. Fear of those who live outside the borders of their country. Fear that someone else will steal their job. Fear that someone will take away their firearm; the one thing they own that allows them to feel powerful. Fear that some faceless Other will rape their women and children and kill them.
Populist politicians are very good at pushing those primal buttons. And just as many people like horror films, I'm convinced that a lot of people get a sick thrill out of being terrified by political leaders.
Primalism. We go to school to get rid of it. We come home, and primalism is reinforced by tribalism. Tribalism that's created by the analysis of Internet behavioral habits.
I'm glad I live an isolated life in Scotland. Our wanking neighbors to the south are relatively harmless as are we.
What are your political views?
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In the States, right of centre politicians and their media supporters know that "communist", "socialist" and "radical liberal" are scary labels they can use to bamboozle the proles. I'm convinced that the vast majority of Americans have no idea what those political stances actually mean, and nor do they have any understanding of how their lives and their communities would actually be affected if such people were in power.
Bernie Sanders is portrayed as a huge boogey-man by the authoritarian right, but I've seen surveys where, when people are asked their views on the policies he advocates and the questions are put in neutral terms, a clear majority of Americans agree with him on many things.
And of course Sanders would be seen as a moderate lefty in Europe, and much of what he says and proposes would be considered no more than common sense.
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charli.m
2 years ago
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.....YOURE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MUH GUNS YOU COMMUNIST SOCIALIST!!!
Ugh. I mean...I love my American family...but having to listen to otherwise good and sane people talk about Obama embezzling and how good Trump had been doing was just...physically painful.
Only topped by the one with several severe chronic illnesses before 35, single mother who has almost died and had to fight for four years to get on Medicaid...saying that she would hate to have socialised medicine like I do.
Fuuuuuck...
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Boojum
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Such idiocy that's so completely detached from reality and self-interest can only be explained by indoctrination to the point of brainwashing.
Over the last few weeks, I've seen videos of former QAnon cultists who have suddenly seen the light and realised it was all a crock of shit. Their embarrassment is much like what I'd imagine you'd see when someone only realised at the age of forty that Santa Claus isn't real.
Those people never completely detached from reality and something in their character gave them the ability to take a step back and think about what they believed and how it compares to what they actually see going on around them. I'm sure a lot of QAnon cultists have fallen so far down the rabbit hole that there's no going back for them, and their universe will just keep on getting weirder and weirder to outside observers. The same applies to those whose only news is from Fox, OAN, Newsmax and those who share their loony social media bubble.
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charli.m
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It's so distressing, honestly. I'm past the point of finding it amusing. It's just awful.
I can't imagine living in such fear and delusion to the point of self destruction.
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Boojum
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I'm convinced that fear is behind a lot of what we see on the political right.
Fear of change. Fear of those who look different or use a language they don't understand. Fear of those who use complicated words they don't comprehend to express concepts they can't grasp. Fear of those who live outside the borders of their country. Fear that someone else will steal their job. Fear that someone will take away their firearm; the one thing they own that allows them to feel powerful. Fear that some faceless Other will rape their women and children and kill them.
Populist politicians are very good at pushing those primal buttons. And just as many people like horror films, I'm convinced that a lot of people get a sick thrill out of being terrified by political leaders.
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Scotsmanship
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Primalism. We go to school to get rid of it. We come home, and primalism is reinforced by tribalism. Tribalism that's created by the analysis of Internet behavioral habits.
I'm glad I live an isolated life in Scotland. Our wanking neighbors to the south are relatively harmless as are we.